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5.8/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.8/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. This Is Heaven remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Is This Is Heaven worth your time today? If you have a soft spot for Vilma Bánky or you're curious about the weird transition from silent movies to sound, then yes.
But if you need a plot that actually moves at a decent speed, you'll probably be bored to tears. It's a very light, very sugary snack of a film.
The whole thing kicks off with Eva (Vilma Bánky) arriving at Ellis Island. She looks radiant, even if she's supposed to be a poor immigrant. 🚢
She gets a job at a restaurant flipping pancakes in the window to attract customers. I spent way too much time wondering if she actually cooked those or if they were props.
The way she flips them is weirdly hypnotic. It's the most action the first half of the movie gets, honestly.
Then she meets James Hall, who plays a millionaire named Jimmy. He’s pretending to be a chauffeur because... well, because that's what rich guys did in movies in 1929.
James Hall has this very stiff way of standing. He looks like he’s worried his collar is too tight. 👔
This was a "part-talkie," which is always a bit jarring to watch. You’ll be watching a silent scene with titles, and then suddenly—BAM—someone starts talking and it sounds like they’re in a tin can.
Everyone was worried about Vilma’s Hungarian accent. Personally, I think it’s charming. It makes her feel more real than the rest of the script.
There’s a scene at an amusement park that feels much more alive than the studio sets. You can see real people in the background just living their lives.
It reminded me a bit of the energy in The Americano, but maybe a bit more polished. Just a bit.
Lucien Littlefield plays the uncle, and he is doing a lot with his eyebrows. He’s basically a cartoon character, but it’s kind of funny in a distracting way.
The romance is pretty thin. They meet, they like each other, there's a misunderstanding about money, and then it's over.
It doesn't have the grit of something like Men. It’s strictly a "feel good" piece that doesn't want to hurt your brain.
One thing that bothered me was the lighting in the indoor scenes. It’s so bright that everything looks flat, like a stage play that forgot to dim the house lights. 💡
But Bánky’s face carries the whole thing. She has these incredibly expressive eyes that tell you exactly what she's thinking, even when the sound quality is terrible.
The movie is called This Is Heaven, which feels like a bit of an exaggeration. It's more like This Is a Pretty Nice Afternoon Nap.
It’s a short movie, which is a blessing. It doesn't overstay its welcome, even if it feels a bit repetitive in the middle.
If you like seeing how Hollywood tried to figure out "talking pictures," it’s a neat historical artifact. Just don't expect it to change your life. 🥞
IMDb —
1928
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